My daughter is totally confused in choosing math classes for her upcoming school year. As she didn’t get algebra in eight grade, she had to take Algebra in 9th grade, so she is like one year late. Next year, they have options to choose Geometry or Algebra 2, but I thought Algebra students are supposed to take geometry in their sophomore year then they have to take Algebra 2 in their junior year. Or, she can take both of them so she can keep up. What can we do? Take both or just choose one. But our daughter would like to take precalc and statistics and AP statistics so that she could get into some highly selective business schools.
I suggest to take stats at college, it is an easy A, will boost college GPA. Algebra 2 and geometry together is fine if your D. is efficient in doing homework. Keep in mind that many are taking Algebra in middle school, so it cannot be hard, right?
If you believe your daughter can do well in Algebra 2 and Geometry, then that is a good route. It will not be a good route if she is going to struggle and hurt her GPA. Some schools require special approval to take them together.
Not sure which business schools you are looking at but business majors take both calculus and statistics. Some programs require two semesters of calculus. Look at what those schools require for undergrads but I would suggest calculus exposure if it is offered at your school.
IMO it is better to take Algebra 2 while Algebra 1 is still fresh.
Thank you for giving ideas. So, if she take both next year, in her junior year, which math classes should she take?
Quite a few students at our high school double up on geometry and algebra 2, for purposes similar to your D’s, especially if they did well in algebra 1. Or, they take a class (typically algebra 2) in summer school after taking geometry and prior to taking pre-calc.
I would also ask your GC what the typical course sequence would be for students admitted to highly selective business schools from your high school.
According to our GC, unless you want to get into a highly selective engineering school, you only need up to pre calc. Statistics is more important for business schools. So I’m worry that it would hurt her GPA as well if she double up two math classes next year. Still I feel like it’s her only chance to catch up. If she just choose one math class next year, she still need to finish the other math class in her junior year. Because of these reasons, she cannot take both Statistics and Pre calc in her senior year. 
Do NOT double in math next year; Geom and Alg require different thinking patterns, and if she struggles in one, she will get frustrated big time and could do poorly in both. Since she did not “get” Alg I in 8th, I’m guessing that math is not her strong suit.
Highly selective b-schools prefer Calc; absent that, she needs strong math scores – all four years. I’d take Geom next year, and if she does well, Alg II and then Precalc/AP Stats.
edited to fix typo.
My husband teaches high school math. He recommends Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II. She could take AP stats after Algebra II. You do not need pre-calculus or AP Calculus to take AP stats.
No No, she didn’t get algebra in eighth grade, she got algebra 1 in 9th grade
One of daughter’s friend who is facing same situation with my daughter told me that she signed up Algebra 2 instead of Geometry and she told me it’s ok. Can we skip our math classes according to her? I thought it is mandatory to take geometry in 10th grade then algebra two in junior year.
We are being told that the New SAT emphasizes geometry less, and algebra and advanced algebra more. So now students are taking algebra I and II first, followed by geometry.
So, my daughter doesn’t need to take statistics and just take AP statistics right away in her senior year with pre calc too?
So in either way, we have to finish both geometry and algebra 2 right? But, we have choice to choose which one to take first in our sophomore year. Am i right?
Is she strong in Math? My D took AP Stat without taking Stat first, she did ok just found it a lot of work. Haven’t seen her AP scores yet. She took it the same year she took AP Calc. Similar reason - started off with Geometry in 9th grade.
But if she take geometry in 10th grade, then algebra 2 in 11th grade, she doesn’t have time to finish both pre calc, statistics and AP statics in her senior year? That’s the main difficulty we are facing. Any ideas please?
She is not a year late; she is at normal college-prep level, on track to complete precalculus in 12th grade. This should have her ready to take calculus in college. The purpose of getting a year ahead in math by doubling up would be to take calculus in high school, which a small number of super-selective schools (and a larger number of engineering divisions) encourage (though very few colleges actually require calculus in high school for admission).
If she is not exceptionally strong and interested in math, she can just choose whatever the normal next math course in the progression is.
A precalc/Stat double is common at our HS, at least for the stronger math students.
At my D’s school the sequence is Algebra 1, Algebra II then geometry. Most of the students have taken Algebra I in middle school. If she is taking chemistry, I do not suggest taking 2 math courses also.
Yes, whether to double up in math depends on what else she is taking and how good she is in math. The comment that was made earlier was that it sounded like she wasn’t a whiz at math because she was taking algebra in 9th grade.
You could ask the math teachers if they prefer alg II before or after geometry at your school.